John 15 18 25 Why the World Hates

John 15: 18 -25 Why the World Hates Us by Bob De. Waay April 9, 2017

Christians Have Alien Status John 15: 18, 19 (NASB) “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. ” § Either of the world or chosen out of it! § “If” as is the case (1 st class conditional) § “If you were” implies “you are not” Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 1

Their Response to Christ Is Determinative John 15: 20 (NASB) Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master. ’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. § “Remember” is imperative § This means mostly rejection § We should expect this (1 John 3: 13) § This hatred is because we know Christ Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 2

Christians Bear the Name John 15: 21 (LEB) But they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me. § His name denotes His person and work § Disciples are persecuted simply because they know God § Jesus is the “sent One” who is God incarnate and He as well as those He sends are hated Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 3

They Preferred Sin to Light John 15: 22, 23 (NASB) If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates Me hates My Father also. § “excuse” means “pretext” or “pretense” § They rejected the fullest light that God has ever given (John 3: 20) § Their hatred of Christ shows that they are not from God, but from the god of this world Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 4

God’s Mighty Deeds Rejected John 15: 24, 25 (NASB) If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have both seen and hated Me and My Father as well. But they have done this to fulfill the word that is written in their Law, “THEY HATED ME WITHOUT A CAUSE. ” § They have greater sin by rejecting the great evidence they saw (John 11: 47 -50) § Jesus cites Psalm 69: 4 which is a Messianic Psalm of David (Messiah is the greater David) Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 5

Implications and Applications § God’s mighty deeds must be proclaimed despite the world’s animosity § The Christian’s hated status is due to God’s work of grace § God will be glorified by people either in salvation or judgment Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 6

Declare God’s Mighty Deeds 1 Peter 2: 9 (NRSV) But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. § Exodus 19: 5, 6 speaks of a kingdom of priests § “mighty acts” is arete_ which means “virtues” § In both OT and NT God’s saving acts call forth a people show his virtues and evoke praises Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 7

A Called Out People 1 Peter 2: 10, 11 (NRSV) Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the desires of the flesh that wage war against the soul. § Christians are aliens by God’s redemption § Christians as such because of God’s mercy § Christians believe and behave differently Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 8

Rich Mercy and Great Love Ephesians 2: 4 - 6 (NASB) But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 9

Trust In Christ by Faith Ephesians 2: 7 - 8 (NASB) so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 10

The Day of Visitation 1 Peter 2: 12 (NASB) Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation. § We must live for God even though hated § We serve God on His terms and thus show the results of His grace in our lives § God will be glorified in either judgment or salvation on that day Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 11